Pipe locator and support

ABSTRACT

An plumbing pipe locator and support is provided for fixing plumbing pipes in position relative to studs in a building. The pipe locator and support comprises an elongated supporting strap having upper and lower sides extending along opposing sides of a longitudinal axis. A first plurality of longitudinally aligned, larger pipe openings are interspersed with a second plurality of smaller, aligned fastener openings that extend into ends of the strap. The upper and lower sides undulate to provide a substantially uniform width between first holes and the adjacent sides and the second holes and the adjacent sides. This undulating surface can provide a strap using less material, with reduced manufacturing time, and a strap that can bend without forming creases or stress fractures.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(e), ofapplication Ser. No. 60/880,879, filed Jan. 17, 2007, the entirecontents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

STATEMENT RE: FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH/DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND

Pipes that are adapted to mate with a plumbing fixture such as a sink orthe like typically extend upwardly between building studs, and thenproject outwardly for connection to the plumbing fixture. The pipes mustbe securely fixed in place to prevent vertical, lateral and axialmovements under the stress of use. The pipes must also be located apredetermined distance apart to precisely align them with the fixtureinlets. One prior art means for securing pipes between studs uses astrap with spaced holes of alternating large and small sizes, asdescribed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,550,451. This plumbing strap worked well,but it uses a long strip of material so the strap can extend betweenstuds typically spaced from 16-24 inches. Further, the uniform width ofthe strap is set by the largest hole in the strap to ensure that thereis sufficient material between the edge of the hole and the side of thestrap, so that the strap is not only long, but wide. There is thus aneed for a strap that uses less material.

Further, these straps are typically made by running a narrow coil ofmetal through dies that punch the holes and advance the metal along thelength of the plumbing strap, but it takes time to advance the coil thelength of the strap so manufacturing costs and times are increased.There is thus a need for a strap that uses less material and that can bemanufactured faster.

BRIEF SUMMARY

The present invention is for a universal plumbing pipe locator andsupport and a method of making that pipe locator and support. The pipelocator and support comprises a supporting strap which includes aplurality of longitudinally spaced apart openings in the form of holesor slots, spaced apart predetermined distances for receiving and therebylocating a pair of pipes in proper spaced relation for attachment tocomplemental conduits of a plumbing fixture or the like, such as afaucet. A second plurality of smaller holes can be provided to acceptnails, screws or the like to secure the strap to usual building studs.Alternatively, a clamp can be used to attach the strap to a waste pipeor the like. For ease of reference this pipe locator and support will becalled a plumbing strap.

The plumbing strap has a variable width, and preferably, but optionallyhas a constant length and constant thickness. The maximum width isselected to provide a sufficient amount of material across the width ofthe strap to support the plumbing pipes or conduits during use of theplumbing strap. The spacing between the largest hole and the edge orside of the strap is roughly maintained along the length of the s trapso the strap is wider at the larger holes and narrower at the smallerholes to form an undulating edge or side. The ends are preferably formedwith parallel opposing sides. The undulating sides are preferablysymmetric about a longitudinal axis of the strap, but is not symmetricabout an axis through the center of the strap and in the plane of thestrap containing the opposing sides. This results in a strap that hasroughly equal spacing between the outermost edges of the hole and theadjacent edge of the strap. The resulting strap is more flexible thanthe prior art straps, uses less material than the prior art straps, andthat can be made faster than the prior art straps.

In one preferred embodiment, there is provided a plumbing strap used incombination with a pair of spaced apart building studs for fixing thepipes in position relative to and an associated pair of pipes. Anelongated supporting strap is provided having upper and lower sidesextending along opposing sides of a longitudinal axis and having alength sufficient to fasten opposing ends of the strap to the studs. Theplumbing strap has a first plurality of longitudinally aligned firstopenings located between the upper and lower sides and extending betweenthe ends of said strap, with the openings being spaced apart by apredetermined distance so the pipes are alignable and in registrationwith the openings. The elongated plumbing strap is adapted to bedimensioned to a predetermined elongated length with the pipesprojecting through a pair of the first openings. The plumbing strapfurther has a second plurality of openings extending between the ends ofthe strap and being smaller than the first openings. The upper and lowersides undulate to provide a substantially uniform width between firstholes and the adjacent sides and the second holes and the adjacent sidesalong at least an axis through a center of the holes and perpendicularto the longitudinal axis and passing through both sides. Thus, the sidesare wider adjacent the first openings and narrower adjacent the secondopenings. Fasteners extend through third holes in the ends and fasteningsaid strap to said studs. The third holes can be the same as the secondholes.

In further preferred variations, the first plurality of openings in thestrap are cylindrical and circumferentially coextensive with theadjacent circumference of said pipe. Moreover, the first and secondopenings are preferably of two different diameters and alternate along asubstantial length of said strap. Further, the sides are preferablymirror images of each other about the longitudinal axis. Moreover, thestrap advantageously has ends containing a plurality of said secondopenings but not the first openings. Finally, and optionally, the straphas at least one shaped opening therein having a square shape sized toengage a shut-off valve of a bottle of combustable gas.

In a further alternative embodiment, a pipe locator and support isprovided for extending between studs in a building to hold plumbingpipes in position. The pipe locator and support has an elongated strapwith a longitudinal axis and opposing sides. The strap further has afirst plurality of holes and a second plurality of holes alternatingwith the first plurality between first and second ends. The secondplurality of holes is smaller than the first plurality and the sidesundulate to provide a larger width at the first holes and a narrowerwidth at the second holes.

In further optional variations on this alternative embodiment, the firstplurality of holes are equally spaced apart and the second plurality ofholes is equally spaced apart with the first and second holes centeredon the longitudinal axis. Moreover, the ends advantageously each have atleast one hole sized to allow a shaft of a fastener to extendtherethrough during use, while preventing an enlarged head of thefastener from passing therethrough during use of the strap. In a furthervariation, the pipe locator and support comprises a flat strap having awidth axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and in the plane ofthe strap, with the undulating sides providing a substantially uniformwidth between the first and second holes and the adjacent sides at thelargest dimension of the holes when measured along the width directionthrough a center of the holes. In a further variation, the first end ispreferably adjacent a first hole and the second end is adjacent a secondhole. Preferably, the sides are mirror images of each other about thelongitudinal axis.

Moreover, in further variations the holes are preferably circular andthe sides have a first largest width formed by first flats on opposingsides of the first holes and parallel to the longitudinal axis, thesides having a second width smaller than the first width and formed bysecond flats on opposing sides of the second holes with inclines joiningthe first and second flats and with the flats being parallel to thelongitudinal axis. Additional variations have the first and second endsincluding sides with a third width that is smaller than the first widthand larger than the second width. The inclines are preferably formed atan angle of about 58° relative to the longitudinal axis. Moreover, theends may contain shaped holes sized to engage a gas-shut-off. Still morepreferably, the holes are circular with a width w between the firstholes and the adjacent first flats measured along the width axis throughthe center of the first holes being about the same as the width wbetween the second holes and the adjacent second flats measured alongthe width axis through the center of the second holes.

In a still further embodiment a plumbing strap is provided with a lengthsufficient to fastening plumbing pipes between studs of a building. Theplumbing strap includes a flat strip of metal having a longitudinal axisand a width axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and a thickness.The plumbing strap has ends with parallel sides and a middle portionwith undulating sides undulating between a larger first width and asmaller second width, the strap having a first series of holes extendingthrough the thickness and along the length of the middle portion andlocated at the first undulations with a second series of smaller holesextending through the thickness and located in the second undulations.Each end has a plurality of spaced-apart third holes extending throughthe thickness.

In further variations of this further embodiment, the first holes arespaced the same distance apart and the second holes are spaced the samedistance from each other. Moreover, the middle portion can have a firsthole adjacent the first end and a second hole adjacent the second end.Additionally, the middle portion can include an undulation having thefirst width adjacent the first end and an undulation having the secondwidth adjacent the second end. Further, the second width can contains asecond hole that is spaced apart from the center of the adjacent thirdhole a distance that is the same as the spacing between the centers ofthe third holes. Moreover, the ends can have a third width that issmaller than the first width and larger than the second width. Further,the undulations are preferably formed by straight segments some of whichare parallel to the longitudinal axis. Additionally, the third holes canbe square and sized to engage a gas-shutoff valve. Further, one of thethird holes in each end can be square shaped and sized to engage agas-shutoff valve, with the shaped holes rotated 45° in the plane of thestrap relative to each other. Preferably, the first holes are circularwith a width w between the first holes and the adjacent undulating sidemeasured along the width axis through the center of the first holes, andabout the same as the width w between the second holes and the adjacentundulating side measured along the width axis through the center of thesecond holes. In the preferred commercial embodiment, the ends have awidth of about 1 inch.

There is also provided a method of making a plumbing strap from anelongated strip of metal having a width corresponding to a length of thestrap as measured along a longitudinal axis of the strap. The methodincludes configuring punch dies to form opposing sides of at least oneplumbing strap where the strap has opposing first and second ends with amiddle portion. The middle portion has undulating first and secondopposing sides which are substantially mirror images of each other aboutthe longitudinal axis, with a first undulation width larger than asecond undulation width and the ends having a common width that isbetween the first and second undulation widths. The middle portionbegins with one of a first or second undulation width adjacent the firstend and ending with the other of a first or second undulation widthadjacent the second end. The undulations being regularly spaced alongthe longitudinal axis.

The method also includes orienting the punch dies and the strip of metalso the longitudinal axis of the strap extends across the width of thestrip of metal. Finally, the method includes repeatedly moving the diesto punch opposing sides of at least one strap successively from thestrip of metal as the strip of metal advances past the dies a distancecorresponding to a multiple of the width of an end of the strap that isat least twice the width of an end of the strap.

In further variations, the method includes punching a first large holecentered in each of the first widths and along the longitudinal axis andpunching a second smaller hole centered in each of the second widths andalong the longitudinal axis. The holes are preferably round and may bepunched before the dies are moved, after the dies are moved, or punchedas the dies are moved.

The method can also include punching a plurality of third small holes ineach end, preferably with the third small holes being located along thelongitudinal axis. Another variation includes punching a plurality ofthird small holes in each end, with the third small holes being locatedalong the longitudinal axis. The third holes can be punched the dies aremoved, punched after the dies are moved, or punched as the dies aremoved. Moreover, the method can include configuring the die to punchopposing sides of more than one strap, with the metal advancing past thedies a distance corresponding to 1+(the number of sides being cut)/2.

In another embodiment, a plumbing strap is provided having a pluralityof alternating large and small holes with the large holes sized toreceive plumbing pipes and the small holes sized to receive a fastenerto fasten the strap to a stud during use. The strap in this embodimentalso has a length sufficient to extend between adjacent studs of abuilding during use, and further has square openings in opposing ends ofthe strap with the square openings sized to engage a shut-off valve of abottle of combustable gas.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features and advantages of the various embodimentsdisclosed herein will be better understood with respect to the followingdescription and drawings, in which like numbers refer to like partsthroughout, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a pipe locator and support;

FIG. 2 is a side plan view of the pipe locator and support of FIG. 1,with the opposing side view being a mirror image thereof;

FIG. 3 is an end plan view of the pipe locator and support of FIG. 1;with the opposing end view being a mirror image thereof;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the pipe locator and support of FIG. 1in use;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of a sheet of metal showing the manufacture ofthe pipe locator and support of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a prior art plumbing strap in use;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a punch die used to form the sides ofthe plumbing strap of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a side schematic view of a manufacturing sequence forproducing the pipe locator and support of FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a plumbing strap with shaped wrenchingholes in it; and

FIG. 10 a is a plan view of a plumbing strap with multiple sized pipeholes and with shaped wrenching holes in the strap.

FIG. 10 b is a perspective view of a plumbing strap with multiple sizedpipe holes and with shaped wrenching holes in the strap.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIGS. 1-4, a pipe locator and support 20 (hereinafter a“plumbing strap”) is provided comprising an elongated member havingvarious widths W, a thickness T, and a length L measured along alongitudinal axis 22. The plumbing strap 20 has a first plurality ofholes 24 having a first diameter. A second plurality of smaller holes 26alternates with the first plurality of holes 24, and both areadvantageously centered on the same axis, preferably the longitudinalaxis 22. There are thus a series of alternating holes having differentsizes. The holes 24, 26 are preferably circular with larger and smallerdiameters D₁ and D₂, respectively. The larger diameter holes 24 have asize selected sized to receive the plumbing pipes 28 (FIG. 4) and thesmaller holes 26 are sized to receive fasteners 30 such as nails,screws, wire, etc. to fasten the plumbing strap 20 to studs 32 of abuilding (FIG. 6). The ends of the plumbing strap 20 preferably, butoptionally, have a series of small holes 26 with no intermittent largeholes 24, so the plumbing strap can be positioned laterally and stillhave the small fastener holes 26 overlap a stud 32 at each end of thestrap.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 4, the plumbing strap 20 has undulating sides34 a, 34 b forming a variable width strap 20 such that the major lengthof the strap has a generally uniform width “w” of material extendingbetween the edge of the holes 24, 26 and the adjacent side 34 a, 34 b ofthe plumbing strap, at least along an axis through the center of theholes 24, 26 and in the plane containing the sides 34 a, 34 b andperpendicular to the longitudinal axis 22. The width “w” issubstantially uniform in that it varies by about 20% or less along thewidth axis passing through the center of the holes 24, 26 in the planeof the strap and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, and preferablyvaries by about 10% or less.

Because the middle portion of the plumbing strap 20 between ends 42, 44has alternating large and small holes, the middle portion of the straphas edges or sides that undulate from larger to smaller. The undulatingsides 34 a, 34 b are preferably, but optionally formed by straightsegments comprising opposing flat tops 36 adjacent the larger holes 24and flat bottoms 38 adjacent the smaller holes 26, joined by inclines40. The undulating sides 34 a, 34 b are mirror images of each otherabout the longitudinal axis 22. The angle θ (theta)) of the inclines 40is about 58° from the horizontal, so that the width “w” between eachhole 24, 26 to the adjacent edge 34 a, 34 b, is about the same, at leastalong the width axis through the center of the holes 24, 26 as discussedin the above paragraph.

The largest width of the plumbing strap 20 has a width W₁ comprising thediameter D₁ of the larger hole 24 with the width “w” on each side, sothe width W₁=D₁+2 w, where W₁ is the width of the strap between opposingouter flats 36.

The two opposing ends 42, 44 of the plumbing strap have a width W₂ thatis slightly greater than the width or diameter D₂ of the smaller holes26 plus twice the generally uniform width “w” such that W₂ is slightlygreater than D₂+2 w. The width of the ends 42, 44 is intermediate thewidth of the plumbing strap 20 at the larger first holes 24 and thesmaller second holes 26. As seen in FIG. 1, the left end 42 is adjacentthe small width containing smaller hole 26, so the end 42 is has a widththat is larger than the adjacent section of the plumbing strap 20. Theright end 44 is smaller than the adjacent section of the plumbing strapthat contains the larger hole 22. Thus, adjacent the one end 42, theplumbing strap 20 necks down, while at the opposite end 44 the plumbingstrap expands or necks outward.

The narrowest width W₃ of the plumbing strap 20 is preferably at thelocation of the smaller fastener holes 26 intermediate the larger holes24, with the width W₃ about twice the generally uniform width “w” plusthe diameter of the smaller holes 26, so that W₃=D₂+2 w, where W₃ is thewidth between opposing inner flats 38. These width calculations are notexact and are instead general approximations, as will become apparentlater when the manufacturing method is explained, and some variation inthe widths can occur while still achieving the advantages of thisinvention and accommodating various sized holes.

The undulating sides 34 a, 34 b of the plumbing strap 20 comprise aseries of inner flats 38 on opposing sides of a smaller hole 26alternating with a series of outer flats 36 on opposing sides of alarger hole 24, where the distance from the edges of the holes 24, 26 tothe adjacent sides formed by the outer or inner flats 36, 38 is aboutthe width “w.” The larger holes 24 are preferably about 0.5 inches indiameter or slightly larger to accept 0.5 inch plumbing pipes, but thesize can vary. The holes 24 are preferably, but optionally spaced about2 inches apart, center-to-center. The smaller holes 26 are preferablyabout 3/16 inches in diameter and are also spaced about 2 inches apart,center-to-center, alternating with the larger holes 24.

The plumbing strap 20 is typically about 16 inches or 24 inches long soit can extend between studs typically spaced about 16 inches apart inresidential buildings, and about 24 inches apart in commercial buildingsor on non-load bearing walls. The strap may be slightly longer toaccommodate errors in stud spacing. The four smaller holes 26 on theends 42, 44 are preferably spaced about 0.5 inches apart,center-to-center, and may be considered as a third set of holes 26 aeven though they are preferably, but optionally, the same size and shapeas the second set of holes 26. The ends 42, 44 can vary in length, ascan the number and arrangement of holes 26 in the ends, but the ends arepreferably long enough to accommodate errors in stud spacing so afastener (e.g., nail, screw, etc.) can pass through a hole 26 in the endto fasten the strap to the stud.

The plumbing straps are preferably not symmetric as the left end 42 asseen in FIG. 1 has four small holes 26 adjacent a narrow segment withinner flats 38 on opposite sides of a small hole 26. The opposing end 44on the right as seen in FIG. 1 has four small holes 26 adjacent a largersegment with outer flats 36 on opposing sides of a large hole 24.

The width W₂ of the strap on ends 42, 44 has a width that isintermediate the widths W₁ and W₃. Thus, on the ends 42, 44 the widthbetween the edge of the holes 26 and the adjacent side 34 a, 34 b of theplumbing strap 20 is slightly larger than the width “w.”

As seen in FIG. 6, the prior art plumbing straps had parallel sides, andthe commercial embodiment had a width of about 1.25 inches when thelarger holes were about 0.5 inches in diameter with about 2 inch centerto center spacing and the intervening smaller holes were about 5/16inches in diameter. That leaves a width of about ⅜ inch between each ofthe large holes and the adjacent side of the prior art plumbing strap,and a much larger width between the small holes and the sides of theprior art plumbing strap.

In comparison with the prior art strap, the plumbing strap 20 has endswith a width of about 1 inch (not 1.25 in.), about 20% smaller andrepresenting about 20% less material, while still allowing a width “w”of about ⅜ inch between each of the larger holes 24 and the adjacentsides 34 a, 34 b of the plumbing strap 20. This reduction in material isachieved by the undulating sides 34, which also allows an improvement inthe manufacture speed.

Referring to FIG. 8, the plumbing straps 20 are made by advancing asheet of wide, flat material 50, preferably metal such as brass, copper,tin, aluminum or other sheet metal through a punch press along an axis Dalong the width of the plumbing straps 20 and perpendicular tolongitudinal axis 22. The sheet of material 50 is preferably a coil ofmetal about 19-20 inches wide where the resulting plumbing strap is foruse with 16 inch stud spacing. The first and second series of larger andsmaller holes 24, 26 can be punched before or after the sides 34 a, 34 bare cut, or less preferably, the holes and sides can be formedsimultaneously. FIG. 8 illustrates a separate operation to form theseholes using a punch having a die or punch 58 to punch the large holes 22and a separate punch 60 for the smaller holes 26 before forming thesides 34 a, 34 b and a later punch 54 to form side 34 b and a punch 52to form side 34 a. This figure shows all holes 24, 26 being punchedsimultaneously, but either of the larger or smaller holes 24, 26 couldbe punched first. Further, the rods forming portions of the dies 58, 60could extend through dies 52, 54 so all holes and sides could be formedsimultaneously.

The plumbing straps 20 are preferably, but optionally, formed in pairs,20 a, 20 b. Each adjacent plumbing strap 20 is oriented 180° oppose theadjacent strap, rotated in the plane of the sheet of material 50. Thus,every other plumbing strap 20 has its end 34 a on the left side of thesheet of material 50 as shown in FIG. 5, with the intervening strapshaving the end 34 a along the right side as shown in FIG. 5.

Thus, along the left and right sides of the sheet of material 50 as seenin FIG. 5, the part of the inward plumbing strap 20 b containing themost distal large hole 24 adjacent end 34 b nests with the part of theadjacent, outward or distal plumbing strap 20 a containing the mostdistal small hole 26. Alternatively stated, along either side of thematerial 50, the hole closes to the edge of the material 50, alternatesbetween large hole 24 and small hole 26.

Reversing the orientation of very other plumbing strap 20, and using astrap that is not symmetric about the axis D allows the undulating sides34 a, 34 b to be formed. Referring to FIGS. 7-8, preferably two cuttingblades or punches are used, a first blade or punch 52 to form one side34 a simultaneously, and a second blade or punch 54 to form side 34 b.The blades or punches can be formed on separate members, or formed onthe same member and offset (stepped) in a direction perpendicular to thesheet of material 50 along which direction the sheet of material 50 iscut or sheared. A 150 ton punch press is believed suitable tosimultaneously cut sides 34 a, 34 b to form two straps 20 with a lengthof about 19.5 inches and a thickness of about 0.060 inches (60 gagemetal) for use with studs that are spaced 16-18 inches apart.

During manufacture, the dies or punches 52, 54 and sheet of material 50are arranged so the length of the strap 20 extends across the width ofthe sheet of material 50. The undulating sides 34 a of the die 52, 54comprise an interior side on the advancing sheet of material 50 withside 34 b forming a distal side located further in the direction D inwhich the sheet of material is advancing. The sheet of material 50 isadvanced a distance equal to one plus (the number of sides being cutdivided by two). For a die or punch containing one set of opposing sides34 a and 34 b (2 sides being cut), the elongated sheet of material 50advances a distance of (1+2/2=2) twice the width of end 42 or 44. Thus,the interior die cutting side 34 b forms a distal end on the sheet ofmaterial 50 that, after the punch or cut is completed, advances past thedistal die forming side 34 a. Cutting side 34 a releases the distalplumbing strap 20 a and also releases interior strap 20 b.

If four cutting or punching edges (two edges 52 and two edges 54) areprovided, the sheet of material 50 would advance 1+4/2=3 times the widthof end 42 or end 44. Thus, for each pair of cutting blades or punchingedges 52, 54, one additional strap 20 is formed, and the sheet ofmaterial is advanced one additional width of the end piece 42 or 44. Thesides 34 and holes 24, 26 could be formed by other means, includingplasma cutting, laser cutting, high pressure liquid cutting, and othermeans now known or developed in the future, in which event the distancethe sheet of material is advanced will vary.

The reversal and nesting of the undulating sides 34 a, 34 b for anon-symmetric (about axis D) plumbing strap 20 allows a smaller width onthe strap 20, which allows a faster feed of the straps through the punchor cutting press, and which reduces the material used on each strap. Byreversing the orientation of the plumbing straps 20 on the sheet ofmaterial 50, and by having the straps non-symmetric when folded about amidpoint on the longitudinal axis 22, the undulating sides 34 a, 34 bcan be formed in a more efficient manner, and faster.

The undulating sides 34 a, 34 b forming the fairly constant width “w”between the holes 24, 26 and the adjacent sides 34 a, 34 b, alsoprovides a more flexible plumbing strap when the straps are grabbed atthe ends and bent about axis D. When prior art plumbing straps withstraight and parallel sides are flexed or bent, the straps form creaselines or stress concentration lines along which the material fractures.The crease lines typically extend through one of the larger holes, andthis is believed due to the large difference at the location of thelarge and small holes. The stiffness at the location of the small holesis several times larger than the stiffness at the location of the largeholes, so the straps bend at the weakest point which is located at alarge hole between the locations where the strap is gripped to bend it.In the plumbing strap 20, the width “w” at the large and small holes 24,26 is about the same, so the strap bends more uniformly, lacks thestress concentrations of the prior art, and does not kink or form creaselines as with the prior art straps. The undulating sides 34 provide amore uniform amount of material between the holes and the sides, andthus provide means for reducing stress concentrations and crease lines.

The holes 24, 26 are preferably circular, but could have other shapes.The holes 24, 26 can be various sizes to accommodate various sized pipesthrough the holes. The holes may be larger than the pipes to accommodatecollars affixed to the holes or the strap, through which the pipes pass.Such collars are described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,550,451, the completecontents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

The small holes 26 are advantageously sized to allow passage of thediameter of the shaft of the fastener 30 (e.g., nail or screw) passingthrough the holes while restricting passage of the enlarged head of thefastener. But other shapes could be used for these holes as well.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 5, the small holes 26 preferably include one ormore shaped holes 56. In the illustrated plumbing straps 20 the shapedholes 56 are square with one shaped hole formed in each end 42, 44.Preferably, but optionally, one shaped hole 56 has opposing sidesgenerally parallel to longitudinal axis 22, while the other shaped hole56 has its corners aligned with that axis (i.e., rotated 45° from thefirst hole). The shaped holes 56 are preferably sized and shaped toengage a gas shut-off valve on a bottle of MAPP gas commonly used byplumbers to solder pipes. A square about 0.2 inch on a side is believedsuitable. Thus, the plumbing strap 20 can be used as a wrench. Byrotating one shaped hole 56 relative to the other hole, one of theshaped holes may be easier to engage a shut-off valve. The shaped holes56 are not limited to use with the improved plumbing strap 20, and maybe added to preexisting art plumbing straps or used with straps havingparallel sides with a constant width and various combinations of holestherein.

FIG. 9 shows a plumbing strap 20 with alternating large and small holesto accommodate pipes in the larger holes and fasteners in the smallerholes. This hole pattern is in the prior art. But the strap 20 hasshaped holes 56 in the ends of the strap which are not believed to be inthe prior art. The shaped wrenching holes 56 are preferably, butoptionally, the most distal or last holes in the strap. The prior artincluded straps with more than one sized pipe hole in the strap. FIGS.10 a, 10 b show a further plumbing strap 20 having three different sizesof pipe holes, located on diagonal centers along diagonal lines. Strapswith different sized holes and with fastener holes are in the prior art,but such straps with the shaped openings 56 are not believed to be inthe prior art. In FIGS. 10 a-10 b, the holes alternate on the diagonalswith a first diagonal 70 having a small pipe hole 72, a large pipe hole74 and optionally a fastener hole 26, and the adjacent diagonal having asmall pipe hole 72, a medium pipe hole 76 and an optional fastener hole26. Fastener holes 26 are optionally placed along the centerline of theplumbing strap. Further, to accommodate the different sized holes theplumbing strap 26 is wider, and two rows of fastener holes 26 areprovided. The shaped wrenching holes 56 are preferably located closestto the ends of the strap. The shaped openings 56 are thus adjacent theend of the strap—within the last few fastener holes 26 and preferablythe last hole 26 before the end. The shaped openings 56 can be on thesame row or on diagonally opposite rows. Each shaped opening 56 isadvantageously aligned about a different axis, and are preferablyorientated 45° relative to each other. Thus, the opening 56 in the rightend of FIG. 56 has its sides parallel to the sides and ends of therectangular plumbing strap while the opening 56 in the left end has acorner pointing toward each of the sides of the rectangular plumbingstrap 20. The above embodiments show a single shaped opening 56 on eachend of the strap, but there could be more than one shaped opening 56 onone or both ends. Further, while the shaped opening is preferably on theends, it could be located anywhere along the length of the strap, and ifso is preferably, but optionally adjacent an edge of the strap.

The undulating sides 34 a, 34 b are described as formed with straightsegments. Sides 34 formed with curved segments are also believedsuitable, but the dies to form the sides may be more expensive to form.

The above description is given by way of example, and not limitation.Given the above disclosure, one skilled in the art could devisevariations that are within the scope and spirit of the inventiondisclosed herein. For example, the undulating sides are formed withstraight segments but could be continuously curved or could have morerounded corners joining the straight segments. The holes 24, 26, 26 aare shown a circular, which is preferred, but other shaped holes couldbe used, especially if collars or inserts are interposed between theholes and the plumbing pipes inserted through the holes. In particular,the holes sized for fasteners (e.g., holes 24, 26) could be elongated toallow variation in placement of the fasteners extending through theholes. Further, the ends 42, 44 could be omitted with the holes 24, 26extending the entire length of the strap plumbing 20. Further, thevarious features of the embodiments disclosed herein can be used alone,or in varying combinations with each other and are not intended to belimited to the specific combination described herein. Thus, the scope ofthe claims is not to be limited by the illustrated embodiments.

1-36. (canceled)
 37. A plumbing strap having a plurality of alternatinglarge and small holes with the large holes sized to receive plumbingpipes and the small holes sized to receive a fastener to fasten thestrap to a stud during use, the strap having a length sufficient toextend between adjacent studs of a building during use, the strap havingsquare openings in opposing ends of the strap with the square openingssized to engage a shut-off valve of a bottle of combustible gas.
 38. Theplumbing strap of claim 37, wherein the square openings are alignedalong different axes in the plane of the strap.
 39. The plumbing strapof claim 37, wherein the square openings are adjacent the end of theplumbing strap.
 40. The plumbing strap of claim 37, wherein the squareopenings are about 0.2 inches on a side.
 41. The plumbing strap of claim37, wherein the strap has upper and lower sides extending along opposingsides of a longitudinal axis with a first plurality of openings locatedbetween the upper and lower sides and centered on the longitudinal axis,the first openings being spaced apart by a first predetermined distancewherein the pipes are alignable and in registration therewith during useof the strap with the first openings being sized to allow plumbing pipespass through the first openings during use of the strap, the strapfurther having a second plurality of openings smaller than the firstopenings and centered on the longitudinal axis, the upper and lowersides undulating to provide a substantially uniform first width betweena periphery of the first holes and the adjacent sides and to provide asubstantially uniform second width between a periphery of the secondholes and the adjacent sides with the first and second widths measuredalong an axis through a center of the holes and perpendicular to thelongitudinal axis and passing through both sides.
 42. The plumbing strapof claim 41, wherein the first width is larger than the second width.43. The plumbing strap of claim 37, wherein the square openings arealigned along different axes and are adjacent opposing ends of thestrap, and wherein the strap has upper and lower sides extending alongopposing sides of a longitudinal axis with a first plurality of openingslocated between the upper and lower sides and centered on thelongitudinal axis, the first openings being spaced apart by a firstpredetermined distance wherein the pipes are alignable and inregistration therewith during use of the strap with the first openingsbeing sized to allow plumbing pipes pass through the first openingsduring use of the strap, the strap further having a second plurality ofopenings smaller than the first openings and centered on thelongitudinal axis, the upper and lower sides undulating to provide asubstantially uniform first width between a periphery of the first holesand the adjacent sides and to provide a substantially uniform secondwidth between a periphery of the second holes and the adjacent sideswith the first and second widths measured along an axis through a centerof the holes and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and passingthrough both sides.
 44. The plumbing strap of claim 43, wherein thefirst width is larger than the second width.
 45. The plumbing strap ofclaim 43, wherein the square openings are about 0.2 inches on a side.46. The plumbing strap of claim 44, wherein the square openings areabout 0.2 inches on a side.
 47. The plumbing strap of claim 37, whereinthe strap has a longitudinal axis along the center of its length andfurther has a plurality of holes aligned along parallel lines that arediagonal to the longitudinal axis, with the plurality of holes having atleast two different diameters arranged in a pattern that is repeatedalong a plurality of the diagonal lines.
 48. The plumbing strap of claim47, wherein the square openings are aligned along different axes in theplane of the strap.
 49. The plumbing strap of claim 47, wherein thesquare openings are adjacent the end of the plumbing strap along with aplurality of fastener openings.
 50. The plumbing strap of claim 48,wherein the square openings are about 0.2 inches on a side.